Fostering Support of Mathematics Learning for Multilingual Classrooms

Funded by TODOS and NCTM

TODOS—Mathematics for All has as one of its goals “to advance educators’ knowledge and ability that lead to implementing an equitable, rigorous, and coherent mathematics program that incorporates the role language and culture play in teaching and learning mathematics.”

Complete Grant Information

Cover Page

Rubric

Past Recipients

2021-2022 Recipient

Strategies for Teaching that Empower Multilinguals for Mathematics Success (STEMMS)

Sugar Creek Elementary School (K-5)
Fort Mill, SC
Robin Babinchak
Kelly Costner

Implementation Year: 2022-2023

STEMMS aims to help teachers at Sugar Creek Elementary School (P-5): (1) improve skills in facilitating MLs’ development of mathematics knowledge and understanding (for content throughout the year) along with the academic language of mathematics; (2) make mathematics lessons and instructional materials more accessible, challenging, and culturally relevant for MLs; and (3) further develop an asset-based perspective that promotes high expectations for MLs in mathematics through a culturally-responsive approach. Twenty teachers (at least two per grade level and one administrator) will engage in a professional book study of Teaching Math to Multilingual Students, Grades K-8: Positioning English Learners for Success (Chval, Smith, Tiros-Carillo, & Pinnow, 2021, Corwin/NCTM) spanning the 2022-2023 school year. Participants will supplement their experience with the choice of another text focused on either strategies or mindset and will share ideas, reactions, and growth through monthly meetings, small-group interactions, and periodic journal-type reflections.

Information for 2023-2024

The purpose of this grant is to provide financial assistance to pre-K–12 schools for in-service to increase understanding and expertise in fostering support of multi-language development when teaching mathematics. The proposed project must explicitly support the implementation of equitable and rigorous mathematics teaching that incorporates students’ languages and cultures in their learning of mathematics. To this end, the proposed project should specifically address—

• the development of classroom materials with a consultant. The consultant must have expertise in both teaching mathematics and teaching language.

AND/OR

• the purchase of materials to implement professional learning with educators towards the above stated goal.

For 2023-24, one grant of a maximum of $4,000 will be awarded to a school. Costs may include honoraria and expenses for consultants, materials, substitute time during the school day, teacher stipend after the school day, and conference or workshop registrations. No funds may be used for staff travel or equipment. While this grant does not fund the purchase of technology equipment, proposals including professional development involving the use of technology to enhance student learning are encouraged. Indirect costs are not allowed. Proposals must clearly communicate the need your project aims to address. To support this, proposals should include school-specific data (e.g. context, demographics, academic mathematics performance, access to professional development) related to the goals of the grant. Additionally, proposals need to describe the scope of your plan that should include the mathematics content focus, number of teachers and students impacted, expected outcomes, assessment plan, other contributing sources of funding and distribution of costs. See Proposal Requirement checklist.

The applicant must have at least one current NCTM member and one current TODOS member who teaches at the school. These memberships must be current at the time of application.

No school may receive more than one award administered by the Mathematics Education Trust in the same academic year. Past recipients of this grant are not eligible to reapply. Activities are to be completed between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024.

Interested schools are invited to submit a proposal. The Proposal Cover Form must be completed and serve as the top page of each copy of the proposal. The proposal must be typewritten, double-spaced, and single-sided (please organize as outlined below), with margins of at least one inch on 8.5" x 11" paper. Font size must be no smaller than 12-point Times Roman and the width between characters should be normal (100%). The proposal is to be submitted electronically to [email protected] by 11:59 PM PST on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. No mailed or faxed copies will be accepted. Duplicate or revised applications will not be considered.